Branding-machine



A. H. ONSTAD.

BRANDING MACHINE. APPLICATION man Pin. 16. 1920.

Patented Mar. 1 1921.; 1

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

'ERT h. OMSTAD,

' ALB Arryst,

A. H. ONSTAD.

BRANDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED.FEB. I6; 1920.

//VVN7'O/P-' ALBERT hf ONSTAD,

y JZW( dad A, firm Arr-Ya,

- PatentdMar. 1, 1921.,

PATET ALBERT H. ONSTAD, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO WEYERHAE'USER FOREST PRODUCTS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, AN UNINCORPORATED ASSO- CIATION.

BRANDING-MACHINE.

1,369,93T. Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d Rial. 1, 1921.

'. Application filed February 16, 1920. Serial No. 358,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. ONs'rAn, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of lvashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Branding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to branding machines and is particularly adapted for branding lumber. The general object of the invention is to provide safe and efficient means for burning trade-marks or other brands onto the surface of boards, timbers and other mill products. It is my purpose to provide a machine of this character that shall be simple, reliable and automatic in its operation. It is also my object to so construct the machine that it shall be operable on pieces of various dimensions. Another object is to provide means for regulating the period of time during which the brand shall remain in contact with the surface to be branded. These general objects are accomplished by combining and correlating a number of individual elements, the specific objects and characteristics whereof will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I accomplish my objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the general principle of operation.

Figs. 2 and 3 are also diagrammatic in character, howing. on an enlarged scale, certain component mechanisms found in the diagram.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the central ortion of the machine showing the brand mg table. the feed rollers, the guide rail and associated parts.

Like numerals denote like parts throughout the several. views.

As a brief preliminary description will facilitate an understanding of the machine. it may be stated that in the form selected to illustrate the invention. a branding head is provided which may be heated in any suitable manner, but preferably electrically. This branding head is vertically movable and descends onto the boards one by one as they are brought on onto the branding table. The boards are advanced by suitable I feed the sequence of the operation is this: As-" sume the branding head to be raised and the stop to be up in acting position: A

board moves forward underthe action of the feed rollers until it engages a trigger which forms part of the stop. The board is arrested and the trigger initiates a sequence of operations which first causes the branding head to descend and remain in contact with the board for such interval as may be necessary to brand it. The interval is determined by time limit mechanism and when the proper period has elapsed, this time limit mechanism initiates a sequence of operations which causes first. the branding head to rise and then the stop to descend, The descent of the stop releases the board and permits the feed and delivery rollers to move the board forward for delivery; but before the board has moved very far. the stop again rises. It tends to rise to highest position. but as the just branded board has not yet had time to move away. the stop cannot rise to its full operating position. It is under constant urge or bias to do so, however, and'the consequence is that it will do so as soon as the board permits. The upper surface of the delivery roller is at a higher elevation than the operating table and hence as soon as a full half of the length of the board has passed To now refer to the machine more in detail, the branding operation takes place example by gratings 8.

driven continuously by suitable mechanism while the board 1 lies upon the branding table 2. The term board is used in the general sense to include commercial lumber and mill products of any and all di-.

mensions. For illustrative purposes, a brand mark is shown at 3, Fig. 4.

In the preferred physical construction shown in Fig. 4, the boards are fed to the branding table by feed rollers 5 journaled in bearings 6 mounted on stationary side frames 7 which form part of the stationary feed table The spaces between the rollers.

may be filled in any suitable manner, as for The rollers are may be either cast or machined. These are adapted to engage the boards and feed them forward and at the same time shift them laterally toward and keepthem in contact with a guide rail 21. This rail is adjustably held by appropriate mechanism, for example, the slotted quadrants 23 which are ivoted to the side frame members 7 and hel b set bolts 24. It is desirable to place, near t e delivery end of the feed table, an ad'ustable stop and shear plate 27 eyond'the branding ta le is a delivery table which may be of a design similar to the feed table. As here shown, it has side frames 30, 30 provided with bearings 31 for delivery rollers 33. The deliver rollers have spiral ridges or rows of teet 34 and they are otherwise like the feed rollers, except that they are of larger diameter, thus having a greater peripheral speed and their upper surfaces being at a higher level than the upper surfaces of the feed roller. The delivery rollers are driven by gears 36 mesh ing with gears 37 fastened to the main shaft 12 previously mentioned. The spaces between the delivery rollers are preferably filled by gratings 38. It will be understood that in the actual machine the feed and delivery tables are extended to greater length than shown in the drawings, there usually being at least three or four feed rollers and three or four deliver rollers with gratings or other latforms located between them. Asthe delivery rollers are of greater diameter than the feed rollers, but rotate at the same angular velocity, the boards will move faster as they leave the branding table than they do as they approach it. t-will also be evident that as soon as the-center of gravity of a board has passed beyond the first delivery roller, it will lie horizontal but at a slightly greater elevation than it occupied when resting upon the branding table. It is this rise which permits the prompt rise of the stop 39 ahead of the arrival of the oncoming board as will hereinafter more full appear.

- ow referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, which are chiefly diagrammatic, but which nevertheless indicate the physical structure of some of the parts: The brand ing head is provided with a die 40 which consists of a mixture of steel and cast iron or other metal or alloy having highresistivity. This die is fastened at its ends to a yoke 42 which consists of a heavy bar of copper-or other metal of high conductivity which constitutes the secondary of a transformer. The primary coils 44 of the transformer are wound around the center leg 45 of the transformer core 44. These primary coils are wound for standard voltages and are provided with taps 46 which lead to individual stationary contacts 48 adapted to be engaged, respectively by contacts 49 on the surface of the drum. 50 of a drum controller. Contacts 49 are electrically connected together but arranged in echelon and one of them is adapted to engage a stationary supply contact 52. Contact 52 is connected by a conductor 53 to one of the supply conductors 54. The opposite ends of the secondary windings are connected by a conductor 56 to another of the supply conductors 57. Thus by the aid of the drum controller any desired number ofsecondary transformer coils may be energized, thus inducing any desired amperage in the single closed loop consisting of yoke 42 and die 40 and constituting the secondary of the transformer. Yoke 42 is made large enough to carry the full amperage without undue heatin ,but the die, due to its higher resistivity, wi lbe brought to a high temperature which may be regulated by properly adjusting the drum controller.

By preference, the primary windings and core-.are stationary while the yoke 42' is long enough to permit vertical reciprocation without interference. This permits the necmentioned is adjustalblyi connected by a link 60 to a walking beam 61 which is fulcrumed upon a stationary pin 62 carried by a standard 63 or other suitable support. This walking beam is connected by a linker stem 66 present design, constitutes a counterweight so proportioned as to overbalance the branding head, and also constitutes the movable to an element 68 which, according to the core or plunger of an electromagnet. Said electromagnet is vertically movable within a coil 70. When the coil is deenergized, the

tors 72. The other end is connected by a conductor 7 4 to a stationary contact 7 6 adapted to be engaged by a switch arm 77. A conductor 7 8 connects switch 77- to a supply conductor 54. Thus when switch 77 is closed, the coil 70 will be energized as follows: from the conductor 54 to conductor 78, to switch 7 7 to contact 76, to conductor 74, thence through the coil" 70, and conductor 71 to the supply conductor 7 2 form ing the opposite side of the line. Switch 77 is biased toward open position by a spring 80 which holds it against a stop 82. The switch forms the armature of an electromagnet having a core 84 surrounded by a coil 85. When the coil is energized, the core will be magnetized and draw the switch arm into engagement with the contact 76. One end of the coil is connected by a conductor 86 to the conductor 78, and the other end is connected by a conductor 88 to a switch arm 90 which is adapted to coiiperate with a stationary contact 91 electrically connected by a conductor 92 to a switch 94 which for identification may be termed the trigger switch, or trigger actuated switch. It has a spring finger 96 adapted to engage a stationary contact 97 which is connected by a conductor 98 to a conductor 100 which is connected to the supply conductor 72. Thus it will be evident .that when switches 90 and 94are closed, coil 85 will be energized as follows: from the supply conductor 54 to conductor 78, to conductor 86, to coil 85, thence through conductor 88, to switch 90, to contact 91, to conductor 92-, to switch 94, to spring finger 96, to contact 97, to con ductor 98, to conductor 100, to supply conductor 72. For identification, switch 90 may be termed the main switch? and. switch '77 the main relay switch. The main switch-90 is biased toward closed position by a spring 1Q2 and switch 94 is biased toward open position by a spring 106. Thus if themain switch 90 is open, coil 85 will be deenergized thus de'nergizing coil and permitting the branding head to occupy raised position. The same will be true if trigger switch 94 is open. This latter switch is closed only when the board is in branding position, the result being that unless the board is in branding position, the trigger switch will be open and the branding head will be in raised position. Consequently, the trigger switch may be said to be board controlled, and the means for accomplishing this will now be explained:

For convenience, the principal parts concerned are shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 3. The trigger switch is pivoted upon a stationary pin 108 carried by the branding table 2 or any convenient part of the machine. It is connected by a-link 109 to a trigger 110 pivoted by a pin 112 to the front of stop 39. The branding table has a slot 114 large enough to accommodate both the stop and the trigger when expanded or open as shown in Fig. 3. The parts are so designed that spring 106 tends to hold the trigger in this open position. The stop 39 is controlled by a movable core or plunger 116 which is vertically movable within a coil 118. The parts are so arranged that when the coil is deenergized, the plunger will rest upon a stop-120 and the stop 39 will descend to or below the level of the branding table; but when the coil is energized, the plunger will tend to rise and bring thestop and trigger 110 above the surface of the table into the ath of the oncoming board, as suggested in ig. 3. The coil is connected at one end by a conductor 121 to conductor 100 and at the other end by a conductor 122 to a stationary contact 124 which is adapted to cooperate with a switch arm 126. Said switch arm is permanently connected. by a conductor 128 to conductor 54. The result is that when switch 126 is closed coil 118 will be energized as follows: from supply conductor 72 to conductor 100, to conductor 121, through coil 118, to conductor 122, to contact 124, to switch arm 126, to conductor 128, to supply conductor 54. The energization of coil 118 therefore depends upon the osition of switch arm 126, which for ident1fication will be termed the stop controlling switch. Said switch is biased toward open position by a spring 130. A stop 131 is provided for limiting the movement of the switch under the influence of the spring. The switch arm is controlled by a magnet core 132 encircled by a coil 134. One end said coil is connected to the conductor 54 and the other end is connected by a conductor 136 to two switch arms 138 and 140.

' These are arranged in parallel and are operated by a time limit device which will be described. Switch 138 is normally closed and switch 140 is normally open and for identification these will be referred to respectively as the rincipal and sup lemental time under the action of spring 145. Contact 142 is connected by a conductor 150 to the supply conductor 72 and contact 144 is connected by a conductor 152 to said conductor 150. It will be evident that if either one of the switch arms 138, 140 is closed, the coil 134 will be energized and the stop 39 will tend to occupy raised position. There is, however, a period during which both of these switches will be open, and it is during this period that the stop descends to permit the just branded board to be released and start its journey toward the delivery table.

This period occurs while the rollers of the being mechanically connected to it by means ofa link 160. By preference the tracks consist of two parallel bars spaced apart sufii-l ciently to receive between them the center flanges 162 of the rollers 163 and 164. Thus the rollers are prevented from becoming derailed as they roll. The normal position of the tracks is shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the temporary position is shown in Fig. 2. Switch arm 138 is provided with a button 166 so placed that when the track 156 is tilted down toward the left, the roller 163 willstrike said button and hold'the switch closed. When the track is tilted in the op posite direction as shown in Fig. 2, the roller will roll away from the button and release the switch and permit it to open. A stop 168 is fastened to the right end of the track to prevent the roller from rolling too far.

By preference, this stop is adjustable lengthwise of the track to afford means for regulating the period of the time elapsing between the tilting of the track (due to the rise of the branding die) and the closing of the switch 138 (which causes the raising of the stop 39) for it will be evident that'the nearer the stop 168 is placed to the right end of the track, the longer it will take the roller to roll from it to the switch after the right end of the track has been raised.

The switch arm 140 is provided with a button 170 adapted to be engaged by the left end of track 158. The parts are so designed that when the left end of the track descends,

it will open the switch 140. The main switch 90 is provided with a button 172 adapted to be engaged by the roller-164 when the latter is at the right end of its track 158, as shown in Fig. 2. When the tracks are in normal position, tilted toward the left as in Fig. 1, roller 164 will rest against a stop 174 secured to the left end of the track: but when the position of the track is reversed, the roller will commence to roll toward the right and after a certain 172 and open switch 90, thus causing the coil 118 to be deenergized and the stop 39 to descend. Stop 174 is adjustable lengthwise of track 158 and thus affords means for increasin or decreasing the interval which will elapse between the time that the track is tilted toward the right (due to the descent of the branding die) and the time when the stop 39 will be lowered and the just branded board released. It will be evident, therefore, that the tracks, rollers, and associated parts constitute a time limit device, the periods whereof are determined by the time required for the rollers to roll from one station to the other on their respective tracks; also that these periods may be increased by increasing the distances of the stops 168,

174 from the rockshaft 154, and vice versa.

A main service switch 176 is provided for connecting and disconnecting the machine to and from the main service or supply lines. when this switch is open. all electric connections in the machine will be cut off. The motor 14, which has beenpre viously mentioned and is employed to rotate the shaft 12, is here shown as an alternating current motor supplied by three conductors 177, 178, and 179. These are connected respectively to the conductors 57. 54, and 72.

To describe in detail a com lete cycle of operations of the machine: et it be assumed that the main service switch 176 is open, and that there are no boards upon the feed table. Under these conditions all the electric parts of the machine are dead, the

this drives the feed rollers 5. The boards in the form of timber, lumber, or other products to be branded, having first been assorted as to width and thickness within the limits of the adjustment of the machine but not necessarily of uniform lengths, are brought to the machine on industrial cars, buggies,-

or other means of conveyance. They are placed by the operator upon the feed rollers, preferably one by one, and these rollers feed the pieces forward, the heliealridges interval has elapsed will engage the button 1,see,es4

or flutes 20 simultaneously shifting them toward the guide rail 21 which has been reviously adjusted to proper position. he holding coil 118, being normally energized, occupies raised position, as shown in Fig. 3. As the advancing board reaches the trigger 110, it moves it and the switch 96 to closed position, as shown in Fig. 1. As the main switch 90 is normally closed, this closure of switch 96 puts the coil 85 in circuit and closes the main relay switch 77. This puts the branding coil in circuit which causes the plunger 68 to rise and move the walking beam 61 to the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 1',thus' lowering the branding die 40 onto the piece of lumber. As the die is hot, it will rapidly burn the brand or trademark into the lumber. The movement of the walking beam will reverse the position of the tracks 156 and 158 as |shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The rise :of the left end of the tracks will immediately cause the switch 140 to-close, thus maintaining the circuit through the coil 134 and keeping the holding coil 118 energized. The rollers are'comparatively heavy and, it takes an appreciable;

amount of time for gravity to overcome their inertia, but they commence their travel toward the" right and finally, after the lapse of a predetermined interval, the roller 164 engages the main SWltCll 90=and moves it to open position as shown in Fig. 2. This opens the circuit through the. relay coil 85, permitting switch 77 to open and. de'e'nergize the branding coil 70. As'the plunger 68 is heavier than the branding die and parts fastened to it, the die now rises. It will be evident that the period, during which the" die is in contact with the piece oflumber will be determined, practically speaking, by the time required bythe roller 164 to travel from the stop 174 to the button 172.0n switch 90. As-the stop 174 isadjustable it is capable of varying the distance which the roller will have to travel to open switch90. This affords means for regulating the period during which the: branding. die is in contact with the work. This is of great practical importance. p

The branding action of the die as-now been completed and the die raised. The raising of the die by the walking beam tilts the tracks 156, 158 toward the left, although the rollers still occupy the position at the right as shown in Fig. 2. The reversal of the tracks instantly opens switch 140 and as the roller 163 is at the right end of its travel. at this moment, the switch-138 will also be open and hence coil 134 is open circuited and denergized. Consequently, the switch 126 opens and puts the holding coil 118 on open circuit, which permits the plunger'116 and stop 39 to drop down onto the stop 120. The lowering of stop 39 removes all obstruction from the path of the board which has just been branded and as the feed rollers are constantly in motion, the board immediately recommences' its forward travel tow'ard'the delivery table. The period of denergization of the coil 118 is brief for as soon as the roller 163 has.traveled to the left end of its track, it engages the button 166 and. closesthe switch 138. This re'e'stablishes the circuit through the coil 134 and hence through the holdin coil 118 and urges the stop 39 upward. nder ordinary conditions the board which has just been branded will not have traveled very far and hence the stop cannot rise to. its normal acting position; but the board soon reaches the delivery rollers 33 and as the upper surface of these delivery rollers is above the level of the branding table, the

rear end of the board rises to the level of the delivery rollers as soon as the center of gravity of the board has passed the first delivery roller. This permits the stop 39 to rise before the board has passed beyond it, from which it will be ev1dent that the stop will be up again in plenty of time to arrest the oncoming board and hold it long makes sure that the board which has beenv branded will be moved off promptly. The oncoming boards cannot arrive at the branding diev prematurely because the guide rail 21. and shear plate 27, cooperating with-the helical ridges on the feed rollers, cause the oncoming boards to abut the rear of the board which is being branded. As the delivery rolls are fluted in the opposite direction, they cause the branded boards to be shifted toward the near edge of the delivery table whence they are placed onto a suitable vehicle to be moved away.

From the foregoing, it will be seenthat the machine is automatic in every particular and that it is practically proof against misoperation. The brandlng die cannot descend when no board is'present upon the branding table for the board must be in branding position in order tohold the switch 96 closed. If such switch is not closed, the branding coil 70.will be on open circuit and hence gravity will cause the .die to remain raised. Differently stated, the die isboard-controlled and hence unless the board is in proper position to be branded the die will remain raised.

There is no danger thata board canpass through the machine without being branded for the stop 39 is normally raised and the desired by adjusting the stop 168 toward the left.

In'describin the apparatus I have used the words rig t and left for illustrative purposes only and to facilitate an understanding of the machine as exemplified by the diagram; but it will be understood that the terms are employed in their relative instead of absolute sense. It will be also understood that the diagram is in many respects illustrative only, for example, it is not essential that the plunger 68 constitute both a counterweight and the movable core of an electromagnetic coil. I

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A branding machine having a movable die, means for supporting and advancing the pieces of work, a stop normally biased,

yieldingly, to occupy a position in the path of the work pieces for arresting them while being branded, and -means operating in to occupy a position in the path of the work pieces for arresting them while being branded, means operating in timed relation with the die for momentarily retracting the stop to thereby release the just branded piece and then reurge the stop toward active position before the just branded piece has traveled completely past the stop, and means for shifting the just branded piece out of its direct line of travel prior to completion of its travel past the stop, whereby the stop is releasedand permitted to regain acting position prior to thearrival of the oncoming piece.

3. A branding machine having a movable die, a branding table, means for advancing the pieces of work seriatim along the table, a' stop normally tending to rise above the level of the table for arresting the pieces of work while they are being branded, means operating in timed relation with the die for momentarily lowering the stop to release the justbranded piece, the means for advancing the work being adapted to elevate the just branded piece prior to the completion of the passage thereof past said stop.

4. A branding machine having a movable die, feed rollers adapted to advance the work pieces one in line with the other, a stop biased to rise above the level of the feed rolls for arresting the pieces of work while they are being branded, delivery rolls for delivering the pieces after they have been branded, the ,upper surface of the delivery.

causing the stop to descend upon the retraction of the die from the work.

5. A branding machine having a movable die, a branding table, means adapted to advance the pieces of work along the table, a stop biased to rise above the level of the table for arresting the pieces of work while thev are being branded, delivery means above the level of the table for removing the pieces of work after they have been branded, and means operating in timed relation with the die for causing the stop to be retracted during a predetermined interval, the delivery means being timed to cause the piece of work to complete its travel past the stop in a period loiiger than the period of retraction of the stop.

6. A branding machine having a movable die, means for supporting and advancing the pieces of work seriatz'm, a stop adapted to move into and out of the path of the work for arresting it while it 1s being branded and subsequently releasing it, correlating means between the die and the stop including a time limit device whereby the stop is yieldinglyurged toward acting position prior to the complete passage of the work past the stop, and means for shifting the work aside from its direct line of travel prior to the completion of its travel past the stop, whereby the stop is permitted to again reach acting position in advance of the arrival of the oncoming piece of work.

7. branding machine having a movable die, a branding table, feed rollers in advance of the branding table, means for guiding the pieces of work seriatz'm on the feed rollers, a stop biased to move upward into the line of travel of the work pieces for arresting them during the branding operation, delivery rolls slightly above the level of the table for receiving the work pieces after they have been released by the stop and elevating them above the level of the table forper- I mitting the stop to rise prior to the com letion of the passage of the just branded piece I past the stop, and means for temporarily stop, means controlled by the die for establishing one electrical condition in said coil for causing the stop to move to non-acting position, and a time limit device also controlled by said die for establishing a different electrical condition in the coil, whereby the stop and the die operate in timed relation.

9. A branding machine having means for supporting and advancing the pieces of work, a stop adapted to move into the path of the advancing work pieces for arresting them during the branding operation, an electromagnetic coil for holdin the stop in acting position, the stop when t e coil is deenergized tending to move to non-acting position, means controlled by the die for deenergizing said coil, and a time limit device also controlled by said die for reenergizing said coil whereby the stop and the die operate in timed relation.

10. A branding machine having impositive means for feeding the work forward to branding position, a branding die, die actuating means, and work controlled means for temporarily rendering feeding means ineffective and simultaneously rendering the die actuating means efi'ective.

11. A branding machine having a continuously operating work carrier for advancing the work and work controlled means for temporarily rendering said work carrier ineffective to enable the work to stand still during the branding operation.

12. A branding machine having a reciprocating die, feed rollers for advancing the work to branding position, and subsequently removing it, means for rotating said rollers continuously, a sto for arresting the work durin the bran ing operation notwithstanding the continuous rotation of the feed rollers, and means controlled b said stop for intermittently withdrawing it from acting position to thereby permit the feed rollers to remove the work after the same has been branded.

13. A branding machine having a movable die biased toward non-acting position, electromagnetic means for moving said die to acting position, and means controlled by the work pieces for rendering said .electromagnetic means active, whereby the die is forced positively toward the work under electromagnetic action.

14. A branding machine having a movable die biased toward non-acting osition, electromagnetic means for ositive y moving said die to acting position, and a time limit device controlled by the work pieces for rendering said electromagnetic means non-active and consequently permitting the die to return to non-acting position under its natural bias.

15. A branding machine having a rnovable die. a support for the work pieces while being branded, an electromagnetic coil for causing the die to move toward and from the work pieces-while on their support, a switch adapted to control the'electrical condition in said-coil, and a trigger adapted to control said switch, said trigger beingadapted to be engaged by the piece of work when the latter is in branding position to thereby establish in the coil an electrical condition such as to cause the die to descend. onto the work.

ing said electromagnetic means active, and

a time limit device controlled by the die for terminating the period of activity of said electromagnetic means whereby after the lapse of the period of operation of said time limit device, said die is caused to return to non-acting position.

17. A branding machine having a movable die biased toward non-acting position, electromagnetic means for moving said die to acting position, a time limit deviceand two switches adapted to cooperate with each other to control said electromagnetic means, one of said switches being adapted to be operated by the work pieces for rendering said electromagnetic means active to therebv move the die to acting .position and the other of said switches being controlled by said time limit device to render said electromagnetic means non-active and thereby permit the die to yield to its bias and move to non-acting position, the'period ofoperation of said time limit device being initiated by said die in moving to acting position.

18. A branding machine having a movable die, electromagnetic means for controlling it, a time limit device controlled by said die, and two switches in series in the circuit of said electromagnetic means, said switchesbeing normally in position to cause the electromagnetic means to hold the die non-active, one of said switches being adapted to be reversed by the work pieces when they are moved to brandin position, thus causing the die to be move to acting position, and the second of said switches being adapted to be reversed by the time limit device at the end of its period of operation,

thus causing the die to be moved 'to non- 19. A branding machine having a movable die, electromagnetic means for con-H trolling-"it, two switches adapted to jointly control said electromagnetic means, said switches being normally in position to cause said electromagnetic means to hold the die nonactive, one of said switches being adapted to be reversed by the work pieces when they are moved to branding position, thus causing the die to be moved to acting position, atime limit device mechanically connected to the die and held nonactive upon said second switch when the die is in nonacting position and adapted to be set and released by the die in moving to acting position, and adapted to reverse the second switch at the end of the period of operation of said time limit device, Whereby the die remains in acting position for a period approximately equal to the period of operation of said time limit device.

20. A branding machine having a movable die, electromagnetic means for controlling it, two switches in series in the circuit of said electromagnetic means, said switches being normally in position to cause said electromagnetic means to hold the die nonactive, one of said switches being adapted to be, reversed by the work pieces when they are moved to branding position thus caus= ing the die to be moved to acting position,

a time limit device including a rocking track mechanically connected to the die and provided .with a roller adapted to roll along said track for ultimately reversing the second switch, the die when in nonacting position being adapted to hold the track in position to hold the roller at a distance from the second switch, and the die being adapted in movin to acting position to move the track to t e position to initiate the rollin action of said rollertoward said secon switch, to reverse it and thus cause the die is in branding position the switch will cause the electromagnetic means to lower the die onto the work, and a time'limit device connected to the die and ada ted to reverse the electrical condition in said electromagnetic means upon the expiration of the period of operation of the time limit device, said die in descending being adapted to initiate the .period of operation of the time limit device 22. A branding machine having a vertically movable die, a branding table for supporting the pieces of work, means for feeding the work pieces along the table, a stop for temporarily arresting the work pieces to enable them to be branded, means for urging the stop to acting position, and a period required by the feeding mechanism to advance a work piece one full length.

23. A brandin machine having a movable die, a table or supporting the ieces of work while being branded, means or feeding'the work pieces upon the table, a stop for holding the work pieces while'the are being branded, an electromagnetic coi for controlling the position of the stop, said coil having two controlling switches in its circuit adapted to jointly control the electrical conditions in said coil to thereby control the position of the stop, and a time limit device controlled, by the die for operating said switches, said switches normal y occupying a position to hold the stop in acting position and the time limit device being adapted when the die moves to acting position, to instantly reverse the position of said switches thereby permitting one of them to kee the stop in acting position and the time limit device, when t e die moves to nonacting position, being adapted to instantly restore one of said switches to normalcondition and to restore the second of said switches to normal condition only after a lapse of the period of'opera-tion of said time limit device. 24. A branding machine having a movable die, a table for supporting the pieces of work while being branded, means for feeding the work pieces upon the table, a stop for holding the work pieces while they are being branded, an electromagnetic C011 for controlling the position of the stop, said coil having two controlling switches in its circuit adapted to jointly control .the electrical conditions in said coil to thereby control the osition of the stop, and a time limit device controlled by the die for operating said switches, said switches normally occupying a position to hold the stop in acting position and the time limit device being adapted, when the die moves to acting pos1- tion, to instantly reverse the position of said switches thereby permitting one of them to keep the-stop in acting position and the time limit device, when the die moves to non-.

acting position, being adapted to instantly restore one of said switches to normal condition and to restore the second of .said switches to normal condition only after a lapse of the period of operation of said time limit device, the time limit device ineluding a rockable'track and a roller on said track, said roller being adapted to control one of said switches and the period of operation of the'time limit device being determined by the time required for the roller to roll the length of the track in returning to normal position due to the rise of the die.

25. A branding machine having a movable die, means for moving the die toward:-

and from the work, regulating means for regulating the period during which thedie is in contact with the work, and mechanism controlled by the Work for initiating the action of the regulating means.

26. A branding machine having a movable die, anv electromagnet for controlling the position of the die, and a time limit device for controlling the period of energization of the electromagnet for determining the amount of time during which the. dieis in contact with the work.

27. A branding machine'h-aving a movable die, an electromagnet for controlling the position of the die, the circuit of the electromagnet including a winding and a circuitbreaker; and a time limit device adapted to be released by the die when the latter engages the work, said time limit device being adapted, when its period of operation has elapsed, to alter the electrical condition in said winding to thereby cause the die to leave the work.

28. A branding machine having a movable die, an electromagnet for controlling the position of the die, the circuit of the electromagnet including a winding and a switch.

circuit breaker, a'tiltable track controlled by the die, and a roller on said track adapted to roll to a position to reverse said circuit breaker, said track being connected to said die to be actuated thereby, the die in descending onto the work being adapted. to

tilt the track in a direction .to cause the roller to roll to a position to reverse said 29. A branding machine having a movabledie, an electromagnet for controlling the position of the die, the circuit of the electromagnet including a winding and a circuit breaker, a tiltable track controlled by the die, a roller on said track adapted to roll to a position .to reverse said circuit breaker, said track being connected to said die to be actuated thereby, the die in desc'ending onto the work being adapted to tilt the track in a-direction to cause the roller to roll to a position to reverse said switch, the rolling period of the roller along 

